Method for the production of cyclic phosphonic acid anhydrides

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for producing cyclic phosphonic acid anhydrides of formula (III) by a) reacting phosphonic acid derivatives of formula (I) with acetic anhydride at a temperature ranging between 30 and 150° C. while separating a mixture of ethanoic acid and acetic anhydride by means of distillation, b) then reactively distilling the oligomeric phosphonic acid anhydrides of formula (II) obtained in step a) and transforming the same into the corresponding cyclic trimeric phosphonic acid anhydrides of formula (III), wherein n represents a number between 0 and 300 while R represents allyl, aryl, or open-chain, cyclic, or branched C 1  to C 8  alkyl radicals, aryloxy, allyloxy, or alkoxy comprising open-chain, cyclic, or branched C 1  to C 8  alkyl radicals. Preferably the cyclic trimeric phosphonic acid anhydrides formed in step b) are immediately dissolved in an organic solvent that exhibits an inert behavior relative thereto.

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing known 2,4,6-substituted 1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxides (III) from the parent phosphonic acids of the formula (I) via their open-chain analogs of the formula (II) by distillation.

The preparation of the oligomeric phosphonic anhydrides of the formula (II) (OPA) by condensation with a suitable assistant (EP-B-0 527 442) and the use of these OPAs to form amide bonds (DE-A-38 39 379) is already known.

However, to form amide bonds, it is necessary here in accordance with the state of the art to use excesses of OPA because, in the product prepared according to EP 0 527 442, phosphonic anhydrides of chain length P₂₀-P₂₀₀ are prepared and the composition of the OPA is thus not known precisely. Resulting costs can be avoided by virtue of the cyclic propanephosphonic anhydrides of the formula (III) (CPA) prepared by the process according to the invention.

Phosphonic acids are degraded by microorganisms typically to the phosphate, which is ecologically problematic (eutrophication). The use of the cyclic phosphonic anhydrides (CPA), which is reduced because it is stoichiometric, can prevent this. This achieves a further advantage by the preparation and the use of compounds of the formula (III) compared to the known preparation processes and applications, as described in EP-A-0 527 442 and EP-A-3 839 379.

The selected preparation of CPAs in the laboratory has already succeeded (H. Wissmann, H. J. Kleiner, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1980, 19, 133 [129]).

The possibility of a distillation of the CPAs is mentioned here, but it is an additional purifying distillation of CPAs already present as crude products. Moreover, in this process, the CPAs are prepared using phosphonyl dichlorides.

The HCl formed in this preparation process poses many problems in an industrial application of this synthesis route as a result of its corrosive and toxic properties. An additional fact is that the product comprises chloride, which can restrict the possible uses of the CPAs.

With regard to the aforementioned disadvantages of the known processes, in which a product mixture is obtained in undefined composition, large amounts of waste occur, corrosive and toxic gases form or the product comprises chloride, there is a need to provide an improved process which does not have all of these disadvantages.

This object is achieved by a process for preparing cyclic phosphonic anhydrides of the formula (III) by

-   a) reaction of phosphonic acid alkanes of the formula (I) with     acetic anhydride at a temperature in the range from 30 to 150° C.     and simultaneous distillative removal of a mixture of acetic acid     and acetic anhydride, -   b) subsequent reactive distillation of the oligomeric phosphonic     anhydrides of the formula (II) obtained in step a) and conversion to     the corresponding cyclic trimeric phosphonic anhydrides of the     formula (III) -   c) the cyclic trimeric phosphonic anhydrides formed preferably being     dissolved immediately in an organic solvent which is inert toward     them,     where

n is an integer from 0 to 300 and

R are H, fluorine, chlorine, bromium, iodine, allyl, aryl or open-chain or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals, aryloxy, allyloxy or alkoxy having open-chain or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals, nitro, nitrile, carboxy, carboxylic esters having open-chain or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals, amide or alkylamide radicals having open-chain or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals.

In the process according to the invention, the OPAs of the formula (II) obtained in step a) are converted directly to CPAs of the formula (III) by a reactive distillation and, immediately after they are obtained, dissolved in a suitable solvent. In this way, it is possible to prevent immediate polymerization of the CPAs to reform the oligomeric phosphonic anhydrides.

Suitable solvents are those which do not react with the phosphonic anhydrides, these in particular being aprotic organic solvents.

Suitable solvents are all aprotic organic solvents which do not react with the CPA of the formula (III), preference being given to ligroin, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, diethylacetamide, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, THF, dioxane, acetonitrile, sulfolane, DMSO, HMPT, NMP or mixtures thereof, particular preference to dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, diethylacetamide, diisopropyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, THF, dioxane, acetonitrile or mixtures thereof, very particular preference to dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, tert-butyl methyl ether, THF, dioxane, acetonitrile or mixtures thereof.

During the reactive distillation, after the full distillative removal of acetic acid and unconverted acetic anhydride under reduced pressure, the present OPA of the formula (II) (preparation analogous to EP-B-0 527 442) is dissociated at a vacuum of from 0.001 mbar to 500 mbar and a temperature of from 100° C. to 450° C. to obtain CPAs of the formula (III) in pure form.

The process according to the invention has the particular feature that, in contrast to the processes known to date, only a low level of apparatus complexity is required, since the preparation of the OPAs of the formula (II) and the reactive distillation to prepare the CPAs of the formula (III) can be carried out in the same reaction vessel.

It should be regarded as very surprising that the formation of the cyclic compounds (III) succeeds by a reactive distillation. The selectived conditions in the distillation can afford the desired CPA in pure form; no reoligomerization takes place.

As mentioned above, suitable R radicals in the formulae (I), (II) and (III) are allyl, aryl or open-chain cyclic or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals, aryloxy, allyloxy or alkoxy having open-chain cyclic or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals. Particularly suitable radicals are those where R=methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl; very particularly suitable are ethyl, propyl and butyl radicals.

The ratio of acetic anhydride to the phosphonic acid of the formula (I) can be selected as desired, but should not be too small and is preferably in the range between 20:1 and 1:1, more preferably between 10:1 and 1:1 and most preferably between 5:1 and 1:1.

The reaction and distillation in the process according to the invention takes place in two stages, and consists

-   a) of the condensation of phosphonic acids of the formula (I) to     give OPAs of the formula (II) with simultaneous distillation of     acetic acid and unconverted acetic anhydride in a temperature range     from 30° C. to 150° C. (internal reactor temperature) or from 30° C.     to 130° C. (top temperature), but preferably in the temperature     range from 50° C. to 130° C. (the internal reactor temperature) or     from 35° C. to 100° C. (top temperature), most preferably in the     temperature range from 70° C. to 110° C. (the internal reactor     temperature) or from 40° C. to 70° C. (top temperature), and -   b) of the reactive distillation of the OPA of the formula (II) to     give CPA of the formula (III), which is effected in the temperature     range of 100° C. and 450° C. (the internal reactor temperature) or     from 100° C. to 380° C. (top temperature), but preferably in     temperature range of 150° C. and 400° C. (the internal reactor     temperature) or from 150° C. to 350° C. (top temperature), more     preferably in the temperature range of 200° C. and 350° C. (the     internal reactor temperature) or from 200° C. to 300° C. (top     temperature).

In the process according to the invention, the pressure in

-   a) the distillation of acetic acid and unconverted acetic anhydride     is in the range from 1 mbar and 1000 mbar, preferably in the range     from 10 mbar to 500 mbar, more preferably in the range from 50 mbar     to 200 mbar, and in -   b) the reactive distillation of the OPA of the formula (II) to give     CPA of the formula (III) is within a pressure range from 0.001 mbar     to 500 mbar, preferably in the range from 0.005 mbar to 100 mbar,     more preferably in the range from 0.01 mbar to 50 mbar.

The distillation may be effected over any period; frequently,

-   a) the distillation of acetic acid and acetic anhydride takes place,     however, within 100 h, preferably within 80 h, more preferably     within 60 h, and -   b) the reactive distillation of OPA of the formula (II) to CPA of     the formula (III) within 120 h, preferably within 90 h, more     preferably within 60 h.

It has generally been observed that the distillation and the reactive distillation can be carried out on small scales within a relatively short period, while the reaction times increase on conversion, for example, to the pilot-plant scale.

The resulting CPA of the formula (III) is dissolved in an organic solvent immediately after the distillation; the mixing ratio between solvent and CPA may be selected as desired, but should not be selected at too low a level owing to the viscosity of the compound, and is preferably in the range of 10:1 and 1:10, more preferably in the range of 5:1 and 1:5, most preferably in the range of 2:1 and 1:2. In a preferred embodiment, the CPA condensate is collected directly in the inert organic solvent in order to prevent polymerization and reformation to give the analogous oligomers.

The thus prepared solution of CPA of the formula (III) and the selected solvent or solvent mixture can be used directly for condensation reactions such as amide formations (M. Feigel et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1989, 28, 486 [466]) and ester formations (F.-P. Montforts et al., Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 1681-1687), acylations (DE 100 63 493) and for the preparation of heterocycles (WO 99/37620).

In particular, the process according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that a compound of the formula (III) of defined molar mass is formed from the different oligomers of the formula (II) and can thus be used in stoichiometric amounts. This increases the economic viability of the use of these phosphonic anhydrides in chemical processes, for example in condensation reactions of carboxylic acids with alcohols or amines. The dissolution of the syrupy compound in an organic solvent allows it to be handled particularly easily and it can surprisingly also be used directly in a multitude of reactions in this form.

The thus obtained solutions can in particular form amide bonds and the coupling reagent can be added in a defined and sparing amount.

The examples and comparative examples which follow serve to illustrate the subject matter of the invention without any intention that the invention be restricted to these examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of 2,4,6-tripropyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide

In a glass flask with stirrer, stopper, internal thermometer and distillation column, 33.0 g of propanephosphonic acid (0.27 mol) are dissolved under argon in 189.3 g of acetic anhydride (1.85 mol) and heated to reflux for 2 h. Subsequently, the mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride is distilled off at 100 mbar. The external temperature is increased to 350° C. and the vacuum to 0.1 mbar. At top temperature 280° C., 22.9 g of colorless, syrupy 2,4,6-tripropyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide are obtained (yield 80%).

The thus obtained CPA is dissolved in 22.9 g of dichloromethane and can be used for further synthesis in this form.

Example 2 Synthesis of 2,4,6-tripropyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide

In a glass flask with stirrer, stopper, internal thermometer and distillation column, 33.0 g of propanephosphonic acid (0.27 mol) are dissolved under argon in 189.3 g of acetic anhydride (1.85 mol) and heated to reflux for 2 h. Subsequently, the mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride is distilled off at 100 mbar. The external temperature is increased to 350° C. and the vacuum to 0.1 mbar. At top temperature 280° C., 22.9 g of colorless, syrupy 2,4,6-tripropyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide are obtained (yield 80%).

The thus obtained CPA is dissolved in 22.9 g of dimethylformamide and can be used for further synthesis in this form.

Example 3 Synthesis of 2,4,6-triethyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide

In a glass flask with stirrer, stopper, internal thermometer and distillation column, 40.2 g of ethanephosphonic acid (0.37 mol) are dissolved under argon in 204.9 g of acetic anhydride (2.01 mol) and heated to reflux for 2 h. Subsequently, the mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride is distilled off at 100 mbar. The external temperature is increased to 350° C. and the vacuum to 0.1 mbar. At top temperature 295° C., 20.2 g of colorless, syrupy 2,4,6-triethyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide are obtained (yield 66%).

Example 4 Synthesis of 2,4,6-trihexyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide

In a glass flask with stirrer, stopper, internal thermometer and distillation column, 44.8 g of hexanephosphonic acid (0.27 mol) are dissolved under argon in 189.3 g of acetic anhydride (1.85 mol) and heated to reflux for 2 h. Subsequently, the mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride is distilled off at 100 mbar. The external temperature is increased to 350° C. and the vacuum to 0.1 mbar. At top temperature 240° C., 30.0 g of colorless, syrupy 2,4,6-trihexyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide are obtained (yield 75%).

The thus obtained CPA is dissolved in 30 g of dichloromethane and can be used for further synthesis in this form.

Example 5 Synthesis of 2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphos-phinane 2,4,6-trioxide

In a glass flask with stirrer, stopper, internal thermometer and distillation column, 44.3 g of cyclohexylphosphonic acid (0.27 mol) are dissolved under argon in 189.3 g of acetic anhydride (1.85 mol) and heated to reflux for 2 h. Subsequently, the mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride is distilled off at 100 mbar. The external temperature is increased to 350° C. and the vacuum to 0.1 mbar. At top temperature 260° C., 27.6 g of colorless, syrupy 2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-[1,3,5,2,4,6]-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide are obtained (yield 70%).

The thus obtained CPA is dissolved in 27.6 g of dichloromethane and can be used for further synthesis in this form.

Example 6 Synthesis of N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-alanine methyl ester

0.1 g of L-alanine methyl ester hydrochloride (0.7 mmol), 0.2 g of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine (1 mmol) and 0.55 ml of N-methylmorpholine (5 mmol) are dissolved in 50 ml of dichloromethane and cooled to −10° C. 0.5 g of CPA from example 1 (50% in CH₂Cl₂; 0.8 mmol) is added slowly, and the mixture is stirred under cold conditions for 3 h and at room temperature for 72 h. The solution is concentrated by evaporation and extracted with ethyl acetate and 1 N HCl solution, sat. NaHCO₃, sat. NaCl and dist. water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered off and concentrated by evaporation. 0.18 g of the white N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-alanine methyl ester is obtained (88%).

Example 7 Synthesis of N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester

0.38 g of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (1.8 mmol), 0.37 g of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine (1.7 mmol) and 1.6 ml of N-methylmorpholine (14.6 mmol) are dissolved in 30 ml of dimethylacetamide and cooled to 0° C. 1.2 ml of CPA from example 2 (50% in dimethylformamide, 1.9 mmol) are then added. The mixture is stirred at 0° for another 1 h and at room temperature for 12 h. The solution is concentrated by evaporation and extracted with ethyl acetate and 1N HCl solution, sat. NaHCO₃, sat. NaCl and dist. water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered off and concentrated by evaporation. 0.53 g of the white N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is obtained (84%).

Comparative Example 8 Synthesis of N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester with the same amount of OPA as in example 5

0.38 g of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (1.8 mmol), 0.37 g of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine (1.7 mmol) and 1.6 ml of N-methylmorpholine (14.6 mmol) are dissolved in 30 ml of dimethylacetamide and cooled to 0° C. 1.2 ml of OPA, prepared as described in EP 0 527 442, example 1 (50% in dimethylformamide, molar amount not possible because the composition is not known) are then added. The mixture is stirred at 0° C. for another 1 h and at room temperature for 12 h. The solution is concentrated by evaporation and extracted with ethyl acetate and 1 N HCl solution, sat. NaHCO₃, sat. NaCl and dist. water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered off and concentrated by evaporation. 0.14 g of the white N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is obtained (22%).

Comparative Example 9 Synthesis of N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester with an increased amount of OPA in comparison to example 5

0.38 g of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (1.8 mmol), 0.37 g of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine (1.7 mmol) and 5.0 ml of N-methylmorpholine (45.5 mmol) are dissolved in 30 ml of dimethylacetamide and cooled to 0° C. 5 ml of OPA, prepared as described in EP 0 527 442, example 1 (50% in dimethylformamide, molar amount not possible because the composition is not known) are then added. The mixture is stirred at 0° C. for another 1 h and at room temperature for 12 h. The solution is concentrated by evaporation and extracted with ethyl acetate and 1 N HCl solution, sat. NaHCO₃, sat. NaCl and dist. water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered off and concentrated by evaporation. 0.55 g of the white N-acetyl-L-phenylalaninyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is obtained (87%). 

1. A process for preparing cyclic phosphonic anhydride of the formula (III) by a) reaction of a phosphonic acid derivative of the formula (I) with acetic anhydride at a temperature in the range from 30 to 150° C. and simultaneous distillative removal of a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride, b) subsequent reactive distillation of the oligomeric phosphonic anhydride of the formula (II) obtained in step a) and conversion to the corresponding cyclic trimeric phosphonic anhydride of the formula (III)

where n is an integer from 0 to 300 and R are allyl, aryl or open-chain cyclic or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals, aryloxy, allyloxy or alkoxy having open-chain cyclic or branched C₁ to C₈-alkyl radicals.
 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cyclic trimeric phosphonic anhydride formed in step b) is immediately dissolved in an organic solvent which is inert toward them.
 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of acetic anhydride to phosphonic acid of the formula (I) is in the range of 20:1 and 1:1.
 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reactive distillation in step b) is effected at a temperature in the range from 100 to 450° C. (the internal reactor temperature) and a top temperature of from 100 to 380° C.
 5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure in a) the distillation of acetic acid and unconverted acetic anhydride is between 1 mbar and 1000 mbar, and b) in the reactive distillation of the oligomeric phosphonic anhydride of the formula (II) to give the cyclic phosphonic anhydride of the formula (III) is within a pressure range between 0.001 mbar and 500 mbar.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein said process is carried out continuously.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the resulting cyclic trimeric phosphonic anhydride of the formula (III), after the reactive distillation, is dissolved in an organic solvent in a mixing ratio of solvent to phosphonic anhydride in the range of 10:1 and 1:10.
 8. The process of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is selected form the group consisting of ligroin, sulfolane, DMSO, HMPT, NMP, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, diethylacetamide, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, THF, dioxane, acetonitrile, sulfolane, DMSO, HMPT, NMP, and mixtures thereof.
 9. A method for forming amine bonds in a reaction selected form the group consisting of condensation, acylation, preparation of heterocyclics, and combinations thereof, said method comprising carrying out said reaction in the presence of the cyclic phosphonic anhydrides of the formula (III) obtained by the process of claim
 1. 